Microfracture surgery ends Big Walt's season
December 13
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
"The term "warrior" gets thrown around a lot. Too much, in fact.
Because there are times when it's really needed to describe -- and pay tribute to -- a player who truly is a warrior.
Like Walter Jones.
The Seahawks' eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle's season has come to an unceremonious end after he had a microfracture procedure performed on his troublesome left knee Thursday.
"To make any statements about Walt really underscores what the facts are -- and that's that he's been out there doing what he's been doing for so long," said defensive tackle Patrick Kerney, who went on injured reserve last month and had shoulder surgery this week.
Jones, who will be 35 next month, first injured his knee in the Week 10 loss to the Dolphins in Miami. But he continued to play in the next three games, including the two games in five days against the Washington Redskins on Nov. 23 and then the Cowboys in Dallas on Thanksgiving Day.
Jones took pain-killing injections before and after the Dallas game, in which DeMarcus Ware beat him for two sacks.
The knee got no better, so he did not play last week against the New England Patriots. It was decided to do the arthroscopic procedure this week rather than force the issue of trying to get Jones ready for another start or two.
Before last week, Jones had missed only four games in his 12-year career because of injuries -- all in 1997, his rookie season.
That doesn't mean he hasn't played through injuries.
"Big Walt is so quiet about stuff like that, you would never know," wide receiver Bobby Engram said.
Engram recalled his first game as a Seahawk in 2001. Another player rolled into Jones' ankle in the season opener at Cleveland.
"Here I am thinking he's going to be done for five or six games, and he never missed a game," Engram said. "I guess Big Walt has an unbelievable pain tolerance.
"He is a warrior."
The nature of his latest surgical procedure raised a few eyebrows, because the microfracture involves drilling small holes in the bone so blood can seep through to help produce new cartilage.
But coach Mike Holmgren said Jones should be ready by training camp, as his recovery period should be shortened because the procedure was done on a nonweight-bearing surface.
"It really is going to be fine, I think," Holmgren said. "He's a very special player, and the knee won't prevent him from playing anymore."
Without Jones, the Seahawks will continue to feature the makeshift line that was unveiled against the Patriots: Right tackle Sean Locklear on the left side for Jones; Floyd Womack at left guard for Mike Wahle, who went on injured reserve last week and had shoulder surgery this week; Steve Vallos at center for Chris Spencer, who also went on IR last week with a herniated disc; and Mansfield Wrotto at right guard, because Ray Willis had to slide to right tackle to replace Locklear. (Womack had been at right guard after Rob
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